Autographic device



14, 1967 L. J. KAISER 3,309,112

AUTOGRAPHIC DEVICE Filed Oct. 18, 19 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 arch M, 1967 J. KAISER 3,309,112

AUTOGRAPHIC DEVICE Filed Oct. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FEGB.

United States atent O 3,309,112 AUTOGRAPHIC DEVICE Lionel J. Kaiser, Creve Coeur, Mo., assignor to Universal Match Corporation, Ferguson, Mo, a corporation of Delaware Filed Get. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 497,150 4 Claims. (Cl. 282-1) This invention relates to autograp-hic devices, and more particularly to such a device for use in transfer-writing on wedge-shaped articles such as match books.

It is often desired to provide so-called personalizec match books by autographing a signature thereon in distinctively-colored writing, such as in gold or silver. Such autographing is conventionally carried out on various articles by placing a pressure-transfer tape having on one face thereof a transfer coating in the desired color, with the coated face engaging the article, and writing on the back of the tape, with resultant transfer of the Written matter to the article in the desired color.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of an autographic device for the above purpose which conveniently enables autographing of a wedge-shaped match book without having to open up the book; the provision of a device such as described adapted for the reception of match books of various sizes and for autographing on various portions of a book; and the provision of a device such as described which is economical to manufacture.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an autographic device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevation.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, an autographic device of this invention is shown essentially to comprise a table 1 on which a wedge-shaped match book B may be placed for transfer-writing on the upper face of the book. At 3 is shown means for holding a supply roll R of pressure-transfer tape T adjacent one side of the table, and at 5 is shown a take-up spindle or spool for the tape located adjacent the other side of the table. Guide rollers 7 and 9 are provided at opposite sides of the table for guiding tape from the supply roll to the take-up spool in a reach extending above the table and in a plane at an angle to the table for sliding a match book beneath the tape on the table to position the book beneath the tape for transfer of writing to the upper face of the book by writing on the upper surface of the tape.

More particularly, the device comprises a rectangular casing or housing 11 having a top generally designated 13, side walls 15 and 17, and end Walls 19 and 21. End wall 19 may be conveniently referred to as the font wall. The housing may be formed of sheet metal or other suitable material. The top of the housing has a pair of elongate slots 23 adjacent opposite sides thereof extending longitudinally of the housing from front wall 1? and terminating well short of the other wall 21 (the rear wall). The match book table 1 is constituted by the portion of the top between the slots, and, as appears in FIG. 3, is inclined downward at an angle of about 8 off horizontal toward the front wall, this angle corresponding generally to the wedge angle of a conventional match book. The portion 25 of the top rearward of the slots and the inclined table is horizontal and flat, and the top also includes flat horizontal portions 27 outward of the slots.

Front wall 19 includes upper corner portions 29 which reach up above the corner 31 at the juncture of the forward end of the table 1 and the upper end of the front wall. The guide rollers 7 and 9 extend lengthwise of the slots on opposite sides of the table 1. They are tubular cylindrical rollers mounted on pins 33 extending horizontally between upper corner portions 29 of the front wall and angle brackets 35 secured to the top 13 at the rear ends of the slots. The axes of the rollers are below the level of horizontal portions 25 and 27 of the top of the housing, and the diameter of the rollers is such that their top surfaces are generally flush with portions 27.

The roll holder 3 comprises a rod secured to and extending horizontally rearward from the inside of the front wall 19 adjacent the left-hand side wall 15 of the housing. This rod 3 has a sleeve 37 of rubber or the like for frictionally holding the roll R in appropriate position lengthwise of the rod and for frictionally resisting rotation of the roll. The take-up spindle 5 is journalled in a bearing 39 secured to the inside of wall 19 adjacent the right-hand side wall 17 of the housing. It extends through a hole in wall 19 and has a knob 41 fastened on its outer end for manually turning it to wind up the tape. It also has an elongate diametrical slot 43 for insertion of the end of the tape for starting the wind-up of the tape.

iWith a roll R of tape T on the holder 3, and with the tape extending from the roll up and around the left-hand guide 7, in a taut reach over the inclined table 1, around the right-hand guide 9 and down to the take-up spindle 5, a wedge-shaped match book B may be slid narrow end first up the inclined table underneath the taut reach of tape extending between the guides 7 and 9 to the point where the upper face of the book contacts the bottom face of the tape. Since the table 1 is inclined at an angle approximating the wedge angle of the match book, the upper face of the book is horizontally positioned for contact with the tape (which is horizontal). The user may then rest his wrist on portion 25 of the top of the housing, and write his name on the tape, with accompanying transfer of the writing via the tape to the book. Portion 25 in conjunction with inclined table 1 thus serves in effect as a desk top. Once the name has been written on a book, the book is removed, the knob 41 turned to wind up the tape and bring a fresh portion thereof over the table 1 for auto graphing the next book.

As appears in FIG. 1, the inclined table 1 is of such width and guide rollers 7 and 9 are spaced far enough apart for accommodation of double-width match books as well as the conventional single-Width match books. It

will also be noted that the rollers are considerably longer than the height of the conventional match book B shown in FIG. 1. This permits shifting of the tape, by axially shifting the supply roll R on holder 3, and by axially shifting the wound-up used tape on spindle 5, toward and away from wall 19 to facilitate autographing on different areas of match books and on different sizes of match books, noting that it is desirable to have the area of the book on which the writing is to appear in firm contact with the under surface of the tape and generally flush with horizontal portions 25 and 27 of the top of the housing.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the "i Q above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limit ing sense.

What is claimed is: 1. An autographic device for use in transfer-writing on wedge-shaped articles such as match books comprising a housing having a top provided with a horizontal portion toward one end constituting its rearward end and an inclined table portion angled downward toward its other end constituting its forward end, said inclined table portion being adapted for reception of a wedge-shaped article thereon with the top surface of the article generally horizontal and generally in the same plane as said horizontal portion of the top of the housing, horizontal guide rollers extending endwise of the housing in front-to-rear direction at opposite sides of said inclined table portion having their upper portions generally flush with said horizontal portion of the top of the housing, means in the housing for holding a supply roll of pressure-transfer tape for being withdrawn from the roll and trained around said guide rollers extending horizontally across said inclined table portion and above the latter, a take-up spindle for said tape in said housing, and means on the outside of the housing at the front for turning said take-up spindle.

3. An autographic device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the take-up spindle extends through said front end of the housing, and the means for turning the take-up spindle comprises a knob on its outer end.

4. An autographic device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means for holding said supply roll is located at said front end of the housing and extends longitudinally of the housing a distance greater than the width of a roll of tape, the supply roll being adjustable longitudinally of the housing on said holding means, and the take-up spindle having an elongate slot for insertion of the end of the tape, whereby the position of the tape longitudinally of the rollers may be varied.

References Cited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,124,869 1/1915 Davis et al 156234 2,656,198 10/1953 Winders 2825 2,851,284 9/1953 Copen 282-1 3,123,384 3/1964 Baker 282--l LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN AUTOGRAPHIC DEVICE FOR USE IN TRANSFER-WRITING ON WEDGE-SHAPED ARTICLES SUCH AS MATCH BOOKS COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A TOP PROVIDED WITH A HORIZONTAL PORTION TOWARD ONE END CONSTITUTING ITS REARWARD END AND AN INCLINED TABLE PORTION ANGLED DOWNWARD TOWARD ITS OTHER END CONSTITUTING ITS FORWARD END, SAID INCLINED TABLE PORTION BEING ADAPTED FOR RECEPTION OF A WEDGE-SHAPED ARTICLE THEREON WITH THE TOP SURFACE OF THE ARTICLE GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AND GENERALLY IN THE SAME PLANE AS SAID HORIZONTAL PORTION OF THE TOP OF THE HOUSING, HORIZONTAL GUIDE ROLLERS EXTENDING ENDWISE OF THE HOUSING IN FRONT-TO-REAR DIRECTION AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID 